Seeing is Not Believing

The following blog is a devotion from my book, Blind Faith Devotional: 30 Days of Finding Light, Building Faith, and Choosing Joy.

For more devotions, check it out here: https://amzn.to/3Q62J9h.

Day 12: Seeing is Not Believing

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

We all know that old idiom, “Seeing is believing.” Let’s face it, our society is pretty much based on proof, evidence, and tangible research. It can be hard for us to believe something that we have not actually seen, felt, or witnessed for ourselves, especially when that thing seems unbelievable. Take Thomas, for example. In John 20, Jesus appears to His disciples, except for Thomas, after His crucifixion and resurrection. When the disciples tell Thomas what they have seen, he does not believe them.  So the other disciples tell him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he says to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25).

Thomas, like many of us, needed that visual, tangible, physical proof.

Faith, though, is about believing and trusting in what you cannot see. After showing His wounds and scars to Thomas so that he would believe, Jesus stressed the importance of having faith. Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). This belief in things “not seen” is easier said than done, especially when it comes to the great unseen of God and His promises.

In my own life, I put my trust in what is unseen every single day…literally. I cannot see anything, I am completely blind, so I have no choice but to have faith as I trust my own mobility skills, white cane, or sighted guide to navigate the world around me.

But what about spiritual faith?

When we are facing trials, fighting with Satan, or experiencing grief, it can be difficult to trust God’s plan, believe in His promises, and remain content in His unseen presence. When I lost my sight, I not only had to put more trust in people and tools around me that were now unseen, but I also had to learn to have more faith in God. Along with my physical sight, I had also lost my ability to see any hope for my future. God, always an unseen entity, seemed more distant than ever.

What is one action that helped me to remain faithful?

I began studying scripture seriously and consequently found many amazing accounts of faith...But don’t just take my word for it, take God’s word. Dive into Scripture and you will find many stories that show how, with faith, God can guide you through an uncertain future, as He did for me when I lost my sight.

With faith, God can provide a way out of a dark situation, like He did numerous times in the Bible. With faith, we can become closer to God than ever before.

Think About It: Have there been times in my life when I have turned to things that were seen for comfort or guidance instead of trusting God’s unseen presence? How can I put my faith more in the Lord’s power than in the world around me?

Pray About It: “Lord, I pray that you will strengthen me today. Turn my eyes away from the world and to your glory so that I can have the faith to put my trust and hope in your promises. Remind me that, even when I cannot see you working in my life, you are always beside me, preparing the way.”

Text that says, “This blog is sponsored by:”

North Point Baptist Church, located at 1400 Cedar Street in Carrollton, GA, is committed to providing a Biblical, compelling, challenging, and life-changing time of worship to show you the love of God. Every member of your family, from the youngest to the oldest, will be met with a friendly face and an opportunity to grow and learn from the word of God.

The Athletic Eye, a new division of Tillman Eye Center, provides sports vision training that focuses on heightening an athlete’s visual abilities and overall performance within their sport. Through visual tests and screenings, professionals determine where a player stands concerning their optical performance. Athletic Eye can then develop a comprehensive training program specific to their strengths, weaknesses, and even their sport of choice.